signify

1 of 2

verb

sig·​ni·​fy ˈsig-nə-ˌfī 

signified; signifying

transitive verb

1

a

: to be a sign of : mean

b

: imply

2

: to show especially by a conventional token (such as word, signal, or gesture)

intransitive verb

1

: to have significance : matter

… it will not much signify what one wears …

—Jane Austen

2

: to engage in signifying

signifié

2 of 2

noun

si·​gni·​fié

¦sēnyəf¦yā

plural -s

: significatum

Did you know?

Signify basically means "to make a sign or signal". One of its synonyms is indicate; the index finger is the finger you point with, so to indicate is essentially to point to something. Significant means "important" and significance means "importance;" similarly, insignificant means "unimportant" and insignificance means "lack of importance".

Synonyms of signify

Verb

• mean
• matter
• weigh

Examples of signify in a Sentence

Verb

A check mark next to your name signifies that you have met all the requirements.

The recent decline of the stock market does not necessarily signify the start of a recession.

He gave her a diamond ring to signify his love.

Whether he agrees or not does not signify.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The name '87 signifies the brand's founding year, not an age statement. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

There’s no magic number for when a debt-to-GDP ratio becomes dangerous, but Japan’s 204% signifies that the country’s national public debt is double the size of its economy. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 July 2026

The racketeering element of Cordova’s and Valenzuela’s charges comes with a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole and signifies that their crime was committed in order to maintain standing within a criminal organization. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Kate then watched as Lorente rang a bell, signifying the end of her cancer treatments. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English signifien, from Anglo-French signifier, from Latin significare to indicate, signify, from signum sign

Noun

French, from past participle of signifier

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for signify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

signify

verb

sig·​ni·​fy ˈsig-nə-ˌfī 

signified; signifying

1

: mean entry 2 sense 2, denote

2

: to show especially by a sign : make known

signified their agreement by nodding

3

: to have importance : matter

doesn't signify much what you wear